Acton's Chapter 69 Vote Prolonged Again (VIDEO)

Monday night, the Board of Selectmen unanimously postponed its vote on Municipal Health Care Reform (Chapter 69) for Feb. 6, 2012. According to Mike Gowing, board chairman, he was willing to put off the vote after all the input he has received on this issue.

“Based on all the input I’ve gotten from the town, who work for the town and live in the town, to conduct unofficial bargaining between now and then (Feb. 6) to review, evaluate and discuss a plan design that all units can agree on,” said Gowning.

An estimated 150 people packed the , with the vast majority in support of not passing Chapter 69.

Acton Patch Writer/Reporter, , reports:

Chapter 69 is a relatively new provision of Massachusetts law. Passed in July of 2011 and called the Municipal Health Insurance Reform Act, it allows for the governing body of a city or town to assume responsibility for altering health insurance benefits for its employees if that municipality is in a state of financial emergency. Salaries and benefits for personnel typically comprise a majority of a community’s budget; the statute’s goal is to decrease health insurance’s cost, thereby improving the financial status of the city or town.

Before moving forward with Chapter 69, the governing body of a town must demonstrate that altering their employees’ current health insurance plans to more closely resemble state employees’ health benefits will result in savings of at least five percent of the current cost. This must occur within a year’s time. They must also ascertain that the current manner of determining  benefits for town employees will not be effective in achieving this goal. 

Acton Patch coverage of the municipal health care reform (Chapter 69) issue:

• Here is a video of a few members from the Acton Education Association explaining why they do not agree with Chapter 69, a “Municipal Health Insurance Reform,” enacted by the Massachusetts State Legislature. Also, a video of Sen. Jamie Eldridge speaking.

• Employees of the Town of Acton may soon find themselves with health insurance benefits that were not negotiated in the traditional manner.

• Acton Education Association President Marc Lewis opposes the measure that would force changes in teachers' health insurance benefits. Board of Selectmen chairman Mike Gowing says it's financially necessary.

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